Department of Community Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Nehru Nagar, Belgaum, Karnataka, India
*Corresponding author: Baliga Sulakshana, Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Nehru Nagar, Belgaum - 590 010, Karnataka, India, Contact No.: +91-93426-11358. Email: baliga1983@rediffmail.com
Online published on 9 May, 2014.
Adolescence is a transitional period between childhood and adulthood. India's population has reached one billion mark, out of which 21% are adolescents. The present study was conducted to estimate the prevalence and socio demographic factors associated with anaemia among adolescent girls.
This one year community based cross-sectional study was done at village Peeranwadi, PHC Kinaye, Belgaum. Four Hundred (400) adolescent girls were selected randomly. Information on socio-demographic variables were recorded. Haemoglobin estimation by cyanmethaemoglobin method was done for every participant in the study.
Majority (82.25%) had age between 10 to 14 years and mean age of study population was 12.9±2.06 years and 98.5% were literates. Of 400 adolescent girls, 51% had attained menarche. The mean height, weight and BMI was less among 10 to 14 years compared to 15 to 19 years (p=0.000). In this study 15 (3.75%) were married and of them 60% were pregnant and all had registered for antenatal care. Prevalence of anaemia was 75% and 49.75% had mild, 20.75% had moderate and 4.5% had severe anaemia.
Adolescent girls constitute an important segment of the population. Their health status influences their reproductive functioning - pregnancy outcomes, birth weight, pregnancy wastage etc. In the present study almost three fourth of girls were anaemic. Iron supplementation programmes specially meant for adolescent girls need to be introduced. Further, emphasis on improvement of nutritional status of adolescent girls through counselling and health education is needed.
Adolescent Girls, Anaemia, Socio-Demographic Factors
